Minnesota Crop News

Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a University of Minnesota Extension educator in the Water Resources Center, was our guest in this Minnesota CropCast (#54) podcast. Jodi specializes in how tillage impacts crop yield and soil health and has developed expertise in soil compaction causes, prevention and remediation. During the podcast Jodi reviewed how soil compaction can occur any time a heavy piece of equipment moves across a field and which factors increase the probability of it occurring. Moving heavy equipment or tilling the soil when it is wet, for example, causes clay particles to slide against each other. This reduces the number and size of soil pores, which is the definition of compaction. Jodi emphasized that preventing soil compaction is the primary goal via practices like reducing axle loads, number of trips across the field, and adjusting tire pressure. Jodi also discussed different field-based practices/tillage options to alleviate soil compaction via mechanical remediatio...

The 18th annual Nutrient Management Conference is less than a week away, so be sure to register! Join us either in-person or online February 3rd, 2026 in Mankato, Minn. This program explores nutrient management, crop production and environmental stewardship. Current topics and new research in nutrient management will be relevant and informative for today's agricultural producers, professionals and anyone else who appreciates high-quality, research-based information. When: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 in Mankato, Minn. Cost: $20 Register:  Attend  in-person  or  virtually  (Lunch is included if you attend in-person.) Presentations: C, N, and P after subsurface installations - Lindsay Pease (University of Minnesota) Soil Harnessing biologicals: Foundational concepts for nutrient-efficient farming - Paulo Pagliari (University of Minnesota) Adding up the CI: fertility, tillage, and cover crops - Anna Cates (University of Minnesota) How much phosphorus do I really need...

Oat production in Minnesota is experiencing a modest renaissance. Just four years ago, oat acreage had declined to a record low, with only 77,000 acres harvested, according to NASS. This season, 165,000 acres were harvested for grain. Despite the rebound, current acreage remains small compared with historical levels, which peaked at roughly 5 million acres annually in the decade following World War II. The increase is being driven by a range of factors, including pet food manufacturers seeking alternatives to wheat or barley, growing concerns about groundwater quality, and producers looking for more profitable cropping options. The upcoming Small Grains Update meetings in eastern and southern Minnesota will place a strong emphasis on oat production and management, covering the crop from start to finish. Additional topics will include variety selection for spring wheat, winter wheat, and winter rye. Note that the meetings in Rochester and Slayton are part of a larger extension program t...

Today on the show we join a panel of 5 specialists, practitioners, Extension educators to discuss nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota. What is the current situation with nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota? Is the situation improving over time? What are some key factors affecting nitrate concentrations? What should growers in the region be thinking about in terms of nitrogen best management practices? What are some other ways that farmers in southeast Minnesota can help improve water quality? What else should we be thinking about related to N BMPs and nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota? What resources (financial and otherwise) are available to farmers in southeast Minnesota? All this and much more today's Nutrient Management Podcast from University of Minnesota Extension. Video of this podcast will be posted to our YouTube channel at a later date.   Read the full transcript Guests: Mary Nesberg, Extension educator (Rochester) Daniel Kais...

By: Mary Nesberg, Extension educator Are you trying to remember the last time you screened your drinking water well for nitrates? The Minnesota Department of Health recommends screening for nitrates every year. There are several resources available for well users and farmers in southeast Minnesota to help improve water quality. Southeast Minnesota’s karst geology Residents of southeast Minnesota have many reasons to love this corner of the state — the rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and clear, spring-fed streams that define its landscape. These features exist because we live in a region shaped by karst geology, where water has carved pathways through limestone over thousands of years. It’s a landscape of beauty and complexity — but also one of vulnerability.   Image credit: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency In karst areas, fractures, sinkholes, and underground caves can allow water and pollutants to travel quickly from the surface into the groundwater below. That means contaminan...

In today’s episode of Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops, we were LIVE at the MN Ag Expo. The MN Ag Expo in Mankato, Minnesota is an annual event featuring commodity group business meetings, educational seminars and demonstrations, and a trade show. We had many guest speakers that were attending the Expo. Bob Lindeman, a Brownton farmer and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) governing board member was our first guest, and he talked about the MSGA, his farm, and some of the challenges facing Minnesota farmers. Second we had a visit from several Minnesota 4-H ambassadors. 4-H ambassadors are participating in the 4-H ambassador leadership program and are passionate about agriculture and educating others on agricultural topics. Up next, we had Dan Lemke, a familiar face and voice in Minnesota Agriculture. Dan is an ag weather specialist and reporter/producer for the Linder Farm Network. He talked about one of Minnesotan’s favorite subjects, the weather (turns out the up...